Varenicline Prescriptions Remain Extremely Low Among Smokers With Peripheral Artery Disease, Study Finds
A large study finds that prescriptions for the smoking‑cessation drug varenicline remain very low among smokers with peripheral artery disease despite strong evidence of its effectiveness.
Akanksha jain 
A new study has found that prescriptions for one of the most effective medications for helping people quit smoking remain strikingly low among smokers diagnosed with PAD.
The research, published, analyzed data from more than 107,000 smokers with newly diagnosed symptomatic PAD. Despite smoking being a major risk factor for the disease, only 3.2% of patients filled a prescription for varenicline after their diagnosis.
Low Use of Proven Smoking‑Cessation Treatments
Researchers found that the use of other smoking‑cessation medications was also limited. Over‑the‑counter nicotine replacement therapies were documented in only about 1.2% of patients, while the antidepressant, sometimes used to help people quit smoking, was used by just 0.3%.
The study highlighted differences between insurance groups. Patients with commercial insurance had slightly higher rates of varenicline prescriptions (4.2%) than Medicare beneficiaries (3.0%).
Smoking a Major Driver of PAD
PAD occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, often causing pain during walking and increasing the risk of serious complications, including limb loss and cardiovascular events.
Smoking is considered the most important modifiable risk factor for the progression of PAD, and quitting can significantly reduce complications such as amputation and heart‑related events.
Clinical trials have shown that varenicline is among the most effective pharmacological treatments for smoking cessation, outperforming several other commonly used therapies.
Missed Opportunities in Patient Care
Despite the benefits, the findings suggest that many smokers with PAD are not receiving evidence-based medications that could help them quit.
Researchers say healthcare providers should routinely offer smoking‑cessation therapies—particularly varenicline—to patients diagnosed with PAD to reduce disease progression and improve long‑term cardiovascular outcomes.
The study underscores the need for greater awareness and better integration of smoking-cessation support into the treatment of patients with vascular diseases.
